Formation of an Opposition Party Announced at a Rally in Albania

By DAVID BINDER, Special to The New York Times

Published: December 13, 1990

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12—
Amid scenes of jubiliation, the formation of the first opposition party in Communist-ruled Albania was announced today at a huge rally in Tirana, the capital.

Called the Democratic Party, the new group has already applied at the Ministry of Justice to establish its legal status, one of its founding members, Gramoz Pashko, who is a prominent university economics professor, said in a telephone interview from Tirana. That ministry was recreated last summer after having been abolished 23 years earlier.

On Tuesday, after three days of anti-Government demonstrations by university students, the Communist Party central committee endorsed in an emergency session "the creation of independent political organizations." No Multiparty Tradition

Albania has been ruled uncontested by the Communist Party since 1946, and until Tuesday the party leadership had consistently declared that it would never permit opposition parties.

The small Balkan country of 3.3 million has no traditions of political parties or parliamentary government. During World War II opposing groups of nationalists, royalists and fascists tried to gain political footing, but were swept aside by the Communists.

Six weeks ago, Mr. Pashko, who is 35 years old, began describing himself to foreign visitors as "a dissident." He was at the time still a member of the Communist Party, as was his friend, Ismail Kadare, a prominent writer, who defected to France in October.

Joining the economist in announcing the founding of the Democratic Party at today's rally in the university's "Student City" were Azem Hajdari, 28, a philosophy student who played a leading role in organizing the student revolt, and Dr. Sali Berisha, 45, a Tirana cardiologist. 'Democracy! Democracy!'

Mr. Pashko said about 80,000 people attended the rally - "workers, of course students, artists, lawyers, all kinds of people." Others at the scene estimated higher numbers. Tirana has a population of 300,000. The crowd chanted "Democracy! Democracy!" The economist said that although some students had been injured in clashes with special police forces on Sunday and Monday there had been no fatalities.

As yet the Democratic Party founders have chosen no leaders, Mr. Pashko said, and they have only begun to sketch out a party platform, which he said would include advocating a multiparty system, protection of human rights, a free market economy and good neighborly relations.

In a departure, however, Azem Hajdari, the student leader, said the Democratic Party would "work for the peaceful democratic union between Albania and Kosovo," the neighboring Yugoslav province of Serbia whose inhabitants are 90 percent ethnic Albanians. This call from Tirana could lead to friction with the Belgrade authorities.

Both Mr. Hajdfari and Mr. Pashko paid respects to Ramiz Alia, the Communist President and party chief, for introducing a reform program that paves the way for multiparty system. National elections are set for Feb. 10.